Latest news with #McCrispy
Hindustan Times
3 hours ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Popeyes throws shade at McDonald's after releasing Chicken Wraps to compete with Snack Wrap: ‘…Y'all good?'
Popeyes announced a new menu item on Monday to rival McDonald's Snack Wrap, which is returning next month. The latter shared an emotional note on X Tuesday over the comeback of its fan-favourite item, which was discontinued in 2016. In response to the unusually long post by its competitor, the fried chicken chain had a hilarious reaction. After months of speculation, McDonald's finally revealed that Snack Wrap will return to its menu on July 10. First introduced in 2006, the popular item features one of McDonald's new McCrispy chicken strips, topped with lettuce and shredded cheese, all wrapped in a soft flour tortilla, according to the company. McDonald's commemorated the return of Snack Wrap with a lengthy post, thanking customers for their unwavering support in achieving this feat. 'I don't usually do this, and i didn't run this by brian from legal (sorry brian). but i have something to say. not as mcdonald's but as the person behind the mcdonald's account,' the fast-food chain wrote on X. 'Yes, i could post about the Snack Wrap, tease you with tweets like 'bring back ___' (knowing exactly what you'd say), and even manifest for its return. but i couldn't bring it back,' McDonald's went on, adding, 'You know who could bring it back? YOU,' while addressing its loyal customers. The company continued to say, 'YOU commented under every post. YOU made petitions. YOU asked for it back in the DRIVE THRU!? YOU tweeted every day for 100 days straight. YOU rallied. you organized. and i saw it all. thanks to you, the Snack Wrap will be back,' before thanking fans for creating a 'movement so powerful that you finally won.' While McDonald's fans were touched by its heartfelt announcement, Popeyes took a hilarious dig at its competitor. In response to the former's post, the latter shared a screenshot of messages, which read, 'I ain't reading all that. I'm happy for u tho (sic). Or sorry that happened.' '…y'all good?' Popeyes asked. In a news release published Monday, Chef Amy Alarcon, VP of Culinary Innovation at Popeyes, said, 'With our new Chicken Wraps, we've taken our iconic chicken tenders and wrapped them in something completely new, bringing all that craveable crunch in a fresh, portable way.' 'We wanted to create a Chicken Wrap that was undeniably Popeyes. Infusing the flavors from our famous biscuit into our wraps was the perfect way to ensure our signature flavors shined through,' Alarcon added. The new Chicken Wraps will be available at participating restaurants nationwide for a limited time, the company said.
Business Insider
5 hours ago
- Business
- Business Insider
I tried chicken tender meals from McDonald's and Chick-fil-A. One chain served up juicier tenders.
McDonald's recently launched chicken strips as part of its McCrispy line of products, which also includes the chain's chicken sandwich. In a comparison of Chick-fil-A and McDonald's chicken sandwiches, I ranked the McDonald's version higher than Chick-fil-A, so I was eager to see if the burger chain's chicken strips could also beat out the legacy chicken chain. I ordered a four-piece chicken strip meal, which came with a medium order of fries, a medium drink, and two sauces. I chose the chain's creamy chili sauce, which was launched alongside the chicken strips for pairing. For my drink, I ordered a Diet Coke from both chains. The cost of my meal at McDonald's came to $16.59, excluding tax and fees. The chicken strips came in a cardboard carton. The chicken strips were large and evenly coated in crispy breading. Unlike other chains' chicken tenders, these ones wouldn't exactly be described as flaky. They're more similar to a very long chicken nugget. The chicken strips differ slightly from the chain's buttermilk crispy tenders, which were discontinued in 2020 at the start of the pandemic. Until now, chicken tenders have failed to return to menus, despite fans' pleas to bring them back. Each bite was evenly coated in well-seasoned, peppery breading. The strips paired excellently with the creamy chili dipping sauce. The chain's new creamy chili sauce was created to go with the new chicken strips, and they paired well. The sauce tasted similar to a Sriracha aioli and added just the right amount of spice without being too overwhelming. The creamy dipping sauce clung to every crevice of the chicken strip, ensuring maximum flavor. The meat inside the tender was a little lacking, however. In a master ranking of 11 fast-food chicken tenders, I ranked McDonald's chicken tenders higher than Chick-fil-A's. However, upon a second try, I wasn't so sure. The chicken tenders were slightly thinner and had less shreddable chicken than I remembered from my first taste test, suggesting the quality could be subject to change based on the batch you get. However, I still really enjoyed them. The meal also came with fries and a drink. Though some might argue that all Diet Cokes taste the same, I disagree. I'm a huge fan of McDonald's Diet Coke, which comes with just the right amount of ice and is always perfectly refreshing. The fries also impressed me — they were salty and crispy, and also paired well with the creamy chili dipping sauce. I also ordered a four-piece chicken tender meal from Chick-fil-A. Chick-fil-A has been selling its beloved chicken tenders since 1989, though it didn't launch the chain's signature sauce until the early 2000s. The meal cost $19.89, excluding tax and fees. It came with a medium drink, a medium order of waffle fries, and three sauces. The chicken tenders were evenly fried, but coated with loose, flaky pieces of breading. At first glance, these tenders were noticeably thicker than the McDonald's chicken strips. They also had a lighter, more golden color to them rather than the almost-brown color of the fried chicken strips from McDonald's. The chicken strips paired well with the chain's signature sauce. The chicken tenders really impressed me. They were crunchy yet filled with thick, juicy shreds of chicken meat. I was surprised to find I actually preferred the chicken tenders from Chick-fil-A over the ones from McDonald's. The seasoning was peppery, like the breading on the McDonald's strips, but it had a slightly briny flavor, adding even more flavor. The chicken tenders were also much thicker, making the meal slightly more filling. The meal came with crispy waffle fries. The waffle fries were crispy yet pillowy — the potato inside seemed fluffier than the potato in McDonald's fries, which were more heavily fried. They were also an ideal vehicle for the Chick-fil-A sauce — I was able to practically scoop it up with the fries, which was mouthwatering. I had to give the win to Chick-fil-A, though I still thought McDonald's offered excellent value. I preferred Chick-fil-A's thick and juicy chicken tenders to McDonald's's more heavily fried, crispy tenders. I also liked the fluffy waffle fries in the Chick-fil-A meal more than the crunchy fries from McDonald's. They were a better vehicle for the chain's signature sauce. However — shocking, I know — I actually preferred the creamy chili sauce from McDonald's. It packed more flavor than the Chick-fil-A sauce, thanks to the slight kick from the chili peppers, but it was still creamy enough to evenly coat the chicken strips. When it came down to value, I thought McDonald's won. The Chick-fil-A meal was over $3 more expensive than the McDonald's meal. In terms of value, it had the chicken chain beat.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Fan-favorite McDonald's item returns to menus at Pennsylvania locations. Here's when
(WTAJ) — After nearly a decade, a fan-favorite item is coming back to McDonald's, including right here in Pennsylvania. The McDonald's snack wrap debuted in 2006 and was taken off a number of menus in 2016. Some locations kept hold of it until 2020 when McDonald's made a huge shift due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In May, McDonald's launched their new McCrispy strips, touting them as a permanent fixture on all McDonald's menus across the country. The announcement brought the inevitable outcry for the return of the Snack Wrap. Taco Bell fans can now make two of the chain's most popular menu items at home McDonald's announced the return of the snack wrap to fanfare across social media. Now, we know it will officially launch on July 10 at participating locations. Those locations include the greater Johnstown and Altoona area, McDonald's confirmed. The snack wraps will be available in their classic ranch, which debuted originally in 2006, and a new spicy version, complete with a habanero kick. Both come with lettuce and shredded cheese. The return of chicken strips and snack wraps isn't surprising. McDonald's, much like other brands, are trying to compete with each other in a flooded market where you can grab something to eat almost anywhere you Taco Bell got into the chicken game with their tortilla-coated chicken nuggets, however, no one took America by storm with chicken the way Popeye's did when they got into the chicken sandwich game, causing long lines and numerous fights among the fanbase. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
McDonald's finally unveils Snack Wrap release date after Popeyes launches competitor
The McDonald's Snack Wrap is officially returning in July. The fast food chain previously teased in a post on X that the beloved, discontinued menu item would be returning on the 14th of an unknown month. However, on Tuesday, the chain announced that it would be returning on July 10. 'Snack wrap 07.10.2025,' the post read. In a follow-up post, the account admin added: 'I know I posted 0x.14.2025 a few weeks ago but I wanted to see if they could come back even sooner. so I asked the boss and he said OKAY LETS DO IT?!?!!' The Snack Wrap was first introduced to the McDonald's menu in 2006 and consists of either grilled or crispy chicken, lettuce, shredded cheese, and ranch or honey mustard inside a tortilla. The Snack Wrap was so popular when it launched that it was credited with boosting the chain's sales. In 2016, the company discontinued the wraps in restaurants in the United States, saying they were too complicated to make. The news of the Snack Wrap's release date comes one day after another fast-food chain, Popeyes, announced it would be adding crispy chicken wraps to its menu. Starting Monday, Popeyes added three chicken wraps to their menu, which are available in classic, spicy, and honey mustard for $3.99 each. Similar to the Snack Wrap, Popeyes' wraps are made with crispy chicken strips, lettuce, shredded cheese, and pickles in a warm tortilla, the chain says. Each wrap will also come with its own sauce — the Classic wrap with mayonnaise, the Spicy wrap with spicy mayonnaise, and the Honey Mustard wrap with honey mustard. McDonald's USA president Joe Erlinger discussed returning the menu item during an appearance on Good Morning America in December 2024. 'The Snack Wrap will be back in 2025,' Erlinger said. 'This has a cult following. I get so many emails into my inbox about this product. It will be back in 2025.' However, Erlinger wouldn't reveal the exact date 'for competitive reasons.' Although Erlinger didn't say exactly when the Snack Wrap will be available, the company seemingly hinted at its return as early as December 2023. 'This includes plans to offer McCrispy in nearly all markets around the world by the end of 2025 and to expand McCrispy into wraps and tenders. These planned innovations and new menu offerings reflect the Company's ability to test and scale quickly to serve customers,' McDonald's announced during an investor conference at the time.
Newsweek
5 days ago
- Business
- Newsweek
Could Gen Z Kill Off the American Hamburger?
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The hamburger could be on its way out as its spotlight seems to be being taken over by the rise of chicken sandwiches. Experts who spoke to Newsweek attribute this shift in consumer demand in part to Gen Z's growing interest in sustainability and health. Between 2019 and 2024, approximately 2,800 chicken restaurants opened in the United States, while about 1,200 burger joints shut down, according to The Sunday Times, citing Circana's 2025 trends report. During the same time frame, the consumption of fried chicken sandwiches in restaurants increased by 19 percent nationwide, while the consumption of hamburgers declined by 3 percent. Visits to chicken restaurants have also been outpacing consumer trips to other fast-food and fast-casual restaurants, increasing by 4.3 percent year-over-year in the third quarter of 2024, according to the trends research firm Chicken chains also outperformed other restaurants in 2024 in the hamburger category, according to Circana's 2025 Definitive U.S. Restaurant Ranking Report. To qualify for Circana's Top 50 ranking, a restaurant must have an annual consumer spending of more than $1.35 billion, and McDonald's and Chick-fil-A, both of which sell chicken sandwiches, were two of the restaurants leading the way, generating over $100 billion. Photo-illustration by Newsweek/Getty Commenting on the shifting preferences, McDonald's told Newsweek that "chicken remains a major priority for McDonald's." The fast-food chain also pointed Newsweek to CEO Chris Kempczinski's recent message that McDonald's was "excited about the significant opportunity we see within our chicken portfolio and see the potential to add another point of chicken market share by the end of 2026." Kempczinski spoke about the success of the McCrispy, one of the company's chicken sandwiches, which he said is "now in over 70 markets." McDonald's also recently launched the new McCrispy Strips, stating, "We've been listening to our fans on social and beyond, and they have made one thing clear: they want more chicken." The company told Newsweek that it is "exploring exciting chicken LTOs - like the popular Chicken Big Mac that hit U.S. restaurants for a limited time in 2024." Major chicken chains have also noticed this growing demand for chicken burgers, and Amy Alarcon, vice president of Culinary Innovations at Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, told Newsweek: "Our chicken sandwiches continue to be a standout menu item for us, they've truly become a cornerstone of the Popeyes line up." She said that since Popeyes launched its chicken sandwich in 2019, they have seen "consistent demand and strong guest loyalty." Alarcon added that they've also expanded the category with "flavor innovations like our Pickle Glazed Chicken Sandwich, which brought a bold flavor twist and drove a lot of excitement." "The appetite for high-quality chicken sandwiches hasn't slowed down, it's only growing," Alarcon said. She added that she thought the growing demand for chicken sandwiches was because flavors can be more creative compared to traditional beef burgers. "The rise of global flavors and premium ingredients has opened up creative territory in the chicken space that's harder to achieve with traditional hamburgers," she said. Given consumers' increasing appetite for chicken sandwiches over burgers, Alarcon said this trend has "reinforced our commitment to continuing innovation in this space. "We're exploring new formats, flavors and builds that stay true to our Louisiana roots but also push boundaries in craveable, exciting and unexpected ways." More broadly, the consumption of chicken has been increasing in the United States, while consumption of beef has declined, as illustrated in the graph below. Discussing the reasons behind the growing consumer demand for chicken over beef, Harry M. Kaiser, a professor of applied economics and management at Cornell University, told Newsweek that, firstly, "chicken is a lot less expensive than beef." "In 2024, the average price of beef was a little over $8 per pound, while the average price of chicken was just under $2 per pound," he said. Secondly, chicken is considered "healthier than beef, and people have become more health-conscious over time," Kaiser said. He added that this could be why a switch to chicken is happening among products like hamburgers, "which have a higher fat content." As the country becomes increasingly weight-conscious, with the rise of weight-loss drugs like Ozempic, more Americans seem to be choosing chicken over beef, Jill J. McCluskey, director of the School of Economic Sciences at Washington State University, told Newsweek. She said that she is currently researching "how consumers' grocery store purchases change after starting GLP-1 drugs, for example Ozempic, and chicken purchases increase after the consumer starts these drugs." There also appears to be a sustainability factor behind America's changing consumer demands, as there is "a perception that burgers are unhealthy and bad for the environment," McCluskey said, adding that "chicken is perceived as more sustainable and healthier." This is particularly relevant for Gen Z, she added, as "Gen Z consumers care more about sustainability than past generations." In a 2020 study by First Insight, Inc., 73 percent of Gen Z participants surveyed indicated that they would pay more for sustainable items, with the majority also willing to pay a 10 percent price premium. Gen Z's passion for sustainability was also highlighted in a 2024 report by Innova Market Insights, which found that 34 percent of Gen Z reported being concerned about the planet's health, the highest percentage among any generation surveyed in the report. Kaiser also noted that Gen Z tends to prefer chicken over beef, adding that "younger people eat less meat, and a lot less beef than older generations." According to findings from Technomic's Q4 2023 North American Meat Institute Protein PACT consumer report, cited by National Hog Farmer, 51 percent of Gen Z respondents reported eating more chicken in the past year, which was higher than the average of 41 percent. High-protein diets are a growing preference in the U.S. and were the most followed diet in the country in 2024, according to data from Statista. Given Gen Z's concern for the environment and animal welfare, most people in America who identify as vegetarians fall within that age range, the data said. It suggests that Gen Z generally tends to opt for environmentally friendly meat sources, such as poultry, or refrain from eating meat altogether. McCluskey said that she expected the demand for chicken "to continue to expand, capitalizing on the perception that it is healthier and better for the environment."
